Line binder



Jan- 12, 1954 J. B. MCDONALD LINE BINDER Filed Jan. 20, 1951 PatentedJan. 12, :1954

UNVILD srArEs erreur orifice to Northrop Aircraft, Inc., Hawthorne;Califi,l a corporation of California Appucatinnianuary 2o, 1951, serialNo. 206,994

1 Claim. 1

The-present invention relates to plumbing lines and the like, and moreparticularly to a means for binding together and securing a number ofparallel plumbing lines, conduit or the like.

Wherever a number of plumbing lines or the like: run closely parallelbetween equipment installations, as in aircraft hydraulic systems forexample, it is usually necessary to bind and securer closely adjacentlines together at certain points between structural supports in order toeliminate vibration, reduce frictional wear, and occasionally to provideadditional support.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an economicalline binder of lightweight that will meet Army and Navy (AN) standardsand which will also be useful in other applications. Cord, tape andrawhide bindings, for example, are not iireproof and are not approved.

Brieily, one form the present invention may take is that of alongitudinal strip of lightweight bendable metal of predetermined lengthand shape. The central portion of the longitudinal strip is cut awayforming an inner longitudinal tongue element having one end free andbeing joined to the outer strip at the other end only. Thus divided, theouter and inner elements are wrapped and woven alternately progressivelyaround a number of cylindrical members parallel to each other andfastened by a lockwire or other means. The number of members to bebound, and the diameters thereof, determines the length of thelongitudinal binder elements.

The present invention will be more clearly understood by referring tothe accompanying drawings where:

Figure 1 is a flat plan View of one preferred form of the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the binder shown in Figure l appliedto a number of cylindrical members using a safety wire fastener.

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the binder shown in Figure 1 appliedto a number of cylindrical members using a locknut and bolt to fastenthe binder in place.

In Figure 1, a longitudinal strap Il! of nonresilient metal, such as.016 annealed stainless steel for example, is symmetrically contouredand cut away in the center to form an inner longitudinal element I I,surrounded by an outer longitudinal element I2, having only one endfree. By calculating the diameters of the members to be bound andsecured, the length of the binder can be accurately predetermined toexactly fit any specic number of cylindrical members of (Cl. 24S-'68) 2specio diameters; The tab" ends I3 and Ifd di the inner and outerlongitudinal elements I-I and I2, respectively, areV preferablyroundedas" shown; and each' are respectively provided with a hole I5 and Iiipositioned to alignv and accommodate a fastener (not shown in Figure 1).The outer longitudinal element I2 is also provided with a transverseslot Il slightly wider than the inner longitudinal element II, and ispositioned inwardly ofthe hole I `inthe tab end I4 of the outer elementI2. Theend opposite thetab ends ofthe' longitudinal elements will beknown-as'th basal end I9 of the strap I0.

In use, the basal end I9 of the strap IU is curved around the peripheryof the outermost member 20a of a group of tubular members 20, as shownin Figure 2 for example, with the longitudinal elements pointeddownwardly. The outer element I2 is brought outwardly and upwardlybehind the basal end IS which is in contact with the outermost tubularmember 26a, bending the outer element tangent to the inner element II. Asafety wire 2l can be passed through the radius formed at the bend, tobe fastened at the completion of the wrapping operation. The outerelement I2 is then wrapped around the top periphery of the outermosttubular member 20a and passed downwardly between the outermost member20a and the next parallelmember 20h and wrapped around the bottomperiphery thereof, and is then brought upwardly between the secondmember 20h and the third parallel member 20c, repeating the progressivealternate wrapping operation for as many members as are t0 be bound andsecured. The inner element. wrapped reversely of the outer element, isbrought under the first member 2da and wrapped around the bottomperiphery thereof, progressively alternately wrapping each parallelmember 20o and 20c in turn until the tab ends I3 and i4 of eachlongitudinal element I I and I2 meet on the opposite side of the groupof wrapped members 20. The tab end I3 of the inner element II is thenpassed through the transverse slot II and bent downwardly at asubstantially right angle thereto, bringing the holes I5 and IE intoalignment to receive the fasteningwire 2i. Thus it can be seen that thedevice of the present invention,

Vin addition to providing a strong lightweight line binder which isreproof, effectively pads one line from its neighboring line so thatfriction therebetween is prevented.

Where it is desirable to designate line binders for re-use, the tab endsI3 and Ifl of the longitudinal elements II and I2 can be preformed toright angles, omitting the slot i1, as shown in Figure 3. The rightangled tab ends I3 and I4, of the inner and outer elements Il and I2respectively, are diametrically opposed and brought into close contactaligning the holes l5 and i6, and a bolt 24 passed therethrough toreceive a locknut 25.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modication in its form, proportions, detailconstruction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacricing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprise a preferred form of putting the invention into eiect, and theinvention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modificationsWithin the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A device for binding together a plurality of parallel longitudinalmembers; comprising a unitary length of exible metal strip having alengthwise longitudinal strip cut away from the center thereof to denean intermediate wrapping element joined at one end only thereof to theremaining portion of said strip which forms an outer wrapping elementextending completely around the edge of said intermediate wrappingelement, a narrow slot transversely positioned in the end of said outerwrapping element adjacent the free end of said intermediate Wrappingelel a locking means.

JOHN B. MCDONALD.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 284,143 Nugent Aug. 28, 1883 692,529 Knttle Feb. 4, 19021,277,479 Ritchie Sept, 3, 1918 1,598,003 Parrott Aug. 3l., 19261,754,033 McGookin Apr. 8, 1930 2,039,387 Burke et a1. May 5, 19362,209,318 Caldwell July 30, 1940 2,466,939 Fowler Apr. 12, 1949

